What's Next

On November 10 of last year, I reflected on how the 2016 presidential election had made me feel.  I requested that we all begin moving forward by doing 4 things:
1. Listen (to your fellow humans).
2. Don't tolerate, accept, participate in, condone, or ignore hate.
3. Remember that there are still people in need.
4. If you are a teacher or parent, remember that you are preparing the next generation of voters and take that responsibility seriously.

The campaign was over.  It was time to move forward.  I had high hopes.  And while I understand that the win of DJT was VERY hard for some people, at some point, we have to accept the way our republic works.

But then it didn't get better.  The "more presidential" version of PEOTUS didn't appear.  He continued to be divisive, petty, and brash.  Russia's involvement became a real, legitimate concern after the intelligence community came forward.  PEOTUS's conflicts of interest were not resolved or eliminated and the tax returns still haven't appeared.  He attacked a respected civil rights leader on Twitter.

And then the cabinet appointments were announced.  One of the more reasonable arguments I had heard in favor of DJT during the campaign was that there was little to worry about as he would surround himself with good, smart people, and that's what mattered.  (Plus, you know, he would #draintheswamp and all that.)

I do not consider myself political.  I hate watching the news, and often don't.  I try to stay just informed enough that I would not be considered ignorant.  I have never participated in the political system other than to be a regular (and hopefully informed) voter.  I have not campaigned for a candidate, or attended a rally, or been super passionate about politics or American government at all.

But then it all finally got to me.  I watched Betsy DeVos's (Secretary of Education) Senate confirmation hearing because what I knew about her I found concerning.  And as I watched, my blood began to boil.  I went from being disappointed and irritated to enraged.

I disagree with the general "school voucher" argument, but I could accept that position as just the Republican/conservative education stance.  THAT was the least of the concerns I had with this woman taking over the DoE post.  It was so bad (proficiency/growth, grizzly bears, IDEA- an overwhelming lack of knowledge).

So bad in fact that I called my senator the next day.  Something even a month ago I couldn't have imagined myself doing.

This Friday I watched the inauguration.  The sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach returned as I listened to our new POTUS paint a dystopian view of America.  Again, as I tried to make sense of it alone I was reminded throughout the coverage that this was not going to go away.  I began browsing social media and was taken aback by what I saw.  People who had kept pretty quiet on social media about their DJT support during the campaign and even after the election were suddenly posting and liking some of the most unbelievably racist, hateful, and untrue things.  They were claiming the moral high ground and supporting falsehoods.  They felt (I am assuming) vindicated in their beliefs by this new president.

By the end of the day Friday I was just plain mad.  Mad enough that if I hadn't had a family obligation on Saturday I think I would have joined my friends at the Women's March in Raleigh.  Instead, on Saturday I watched (and cheered from home) as dozens of my friends stood together all across the country and peacefully protested.  It made me feel so much more patriotic than the inauguration festivities had.

Then the Trump administration really got going and suddenly that dystopian analogy didn't seem so far-fetched.

So I'm getting political.

I'm not sure what that completely looks like yet, but it is going to be happening.

I still don't consider myself a strong member of either party, but I can assure you I will be working against the supporters of the 45th President.

Today, I went to church and prayed.  Then I followed all of my national representatives on social media.  I added them to the contacts in my phone.  I signed up for swingleft.org (turns out my District is a swing district in 2018) and I signed up for 10 Actions in 100 Days (the first of which I plan to do this week).

I'm not putting up with this.  I'm not burying my head in the sand anymore and pretending like it will all be ok.  I'm not listening to these ridiculous arguments based on lies (call them "alternative facts" all you want) and I'm not supporting hate, pettiness, belittling, or bullying on either side.

I'm not done yet.  I'm just getting started.

 #whatsnext